Valve for pneumatic tires.



Am. 0 9 1|. 71 2. TM D.. E S D E T N E T A P Dm .J R, E L L E K R 1J..Hw 5 1. l 7 7 n N VALVE FOR PNEUMATIG TIRES APPLICATION FILED DBO.29,1903.

N0 MODEL.

JOUzEjfe Patented September 27, 1904.

JOHN ESTEN KELLER, yJR., OE LITCHEIELD,-CONNEGTICUT.

VALVE FOR PNEUMATIC TIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 771,156, datedSeptember 27, 1904. Application led December 29, 1903. Serial No.186,986. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ESTEN KELLER, J r., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Litchfield,in the county of Litchfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented a new and useful Valve for Pneumatic Tires,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to valves for pneumatic tires, and has for itsprincipal object the provision of a valve of such construction that theentire valve mechanism may be readily removed from the valve-tubeattached to the tire without the use of tools and without injury to thepacking disposedV between the valve-casing and the tube in which thevalve is secured.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve of the characterspecified in which Y rotation of the valve-plug when the pump isattached thereto for inflating the tire is positively prevented, soobviating the twisting or tearing of the packing external to thevalveplug and prolonging the period during which the valve will operatewithout repair.

As the-construction of a valve for a pneu- 'matic tire necessarilyincludes a number of' elements of comparatively fragile nature, all suchvalves occasionally become inoperative or defective in operation so thatrepair is necessary. /When the operation of such a valve becomesdefective, it must be immediately repaired, in order to keep the tire towhich it is attached inflated to the proper degree. Y The repair oftire-valvesis apt to be more or less tedious, partly because the partsof the valve are ordinarily so connected that itA is diflilcult toobtain access to the interior of the valve and partly because it is notalways easy after the defect has been discovered to correct itsatisfactorily. The difficulty of obtaining access to the innerstructure of the valve is, however', the most serious lcause of delay inmaking repairs to tirevalves, and in order to avoid the necessity ofstopping for a considerable period at the road-l side in order to repaira defective valve of a vehicle-tire I have provided a valve and securingmeans therefor of such structure that the. entire valve mechanism may bequickly and easily removed from the valve-tube and a new valveintroduced in its stead. The defective valve may then be repaired atleisure,

and by carrying a small supply of duplicate valves the owners ofvehicles provided with pneumatic tires will be enabled to avoid thenecessity of stopping for more than a few moments in case one of thetire-valves becomes defective in operation.

The preferred forms of mechanism by which I attain the objects abovementioned and others which will appear as the invention is more fullydisclosed are hereinafter fully described and illustrated in severaldifferent forms of embodiment in the accompanying drawings, it beingunderstood that changes in the form, proportions, and mode of assemblageof the elements exhibited may be made within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from the spirit of theinvention or sacricingthe advantages thereof.

In the drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal section through thepreferred form of valve. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectionalView of the upper portion of the valve-tube, the valve-plug, and membersassociated therewith. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the' line 3 '3of Fig. 2.' Fig. Llis a view, partly in' longitudinal section and partlyin elevation, of a modied form of valve. Eig. 5 is a transverse sectionon the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line'66 of Fig. 4. Eig. 7 is a view, partly in elevation and partly insection, of another modified form of valve.

In disclosing the nature of the invention I shall describe valvesadapted for use upon tires of the type in which the valve is secured ina metal tube clamped upon the inner or air tube of the tire and valvesadapted for use in connection with tires having a tubular stem formedintegral with the tire-tube itself.

In the drawings corresponding parts are designated by similar characterof reference in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, 1designates a metal tube externally threaded, as shown at 2, and providedat one end with a flange 3, designed for introduction within-the inneror air tube A of a tire. The flange 3 is prefer- IOO `the material ofthe tube'A.

ably provided upon its upper or outer surface with alcircumferentialrabbet 4 surrounding a central raised portion 5 of the flange, whichpresents at its periphery a rounded shoulder 6. Immediately above theflange 3 and between it and the threaded outer surface 2 the tube isreduced slightly in external diameter, as shown at 7, to provide acircumferential groove for the reception of the thickened portion of thetube A surrounding the opening through which the tube 1 extends. Whenthe iiange is formed as described, a washer 8, having a central openingsufficiently large to permit it to pass freely over the threadedexterior of the tube 1, is provided upon the tube, and this washer hasat the periphery thereof an annular rib on the under surface whichcooperates with the'rabbet formed upon the iange to grip In order toforce the washer 8 into clamping engagement with theftube A, a nut 9,provided `with openings 10 for the reception of Spanner-lugs, isthread-y ed 'upon the exterior of lthe tube 1: At the upper or outer endthetube 1 is counterbored, as shown at 11, to afford a seat `for thepacking-washer on the exterior ofthe valve mechanism, and atdiametrically opposite points square notches 12 are cut'in the end ofthe tube- 1 for engagement with lugs formed upon the valve-plug, asshowninFig. 3.

The valve mechanism preferably used'with the tubeand securing devicesabove described comprises a tubular casing 13, which is constricted atythe lower end, as shownat 14, to'

afford support for a spiral spr-ing 15, which is loosely held within thecasing; At its upper e'nd thecasing is internally threaded forengagement with" the externally threaded lower portion-of a'valve-plug16, which: consists of al lower portion of Vrelatively small' diameterand an -upper portion of relatively largediameter. The valve-plug iscentrally bored to form an air-passage 17 and in the upper end iscounterbored; as shownl at 18, to? provide for the connection of a pumptherewith, the wall of the counterbored portion being lthreaded. forthat purpose. the upper end of the valve-casing A13 and the relativelylarge upperfportion of the valveplug a washer 19,01' rubberor othersuitable packing material, is provided. The washer is of such diameterthat it will 'enter easily into the counterbore 11 of the tubel and isof such thickness that when clampedftightly between the valve-plugand-the bottom-of the said counterborethe washer Vwill expand intocontact with the side wall of the counterbore;

The portion of the valve-plug immediately above thewasher 19 is of such=diameter that that yit also will enter into the counterbore 11 ofthetube1, and at.diametrically'opposite points upon that portion of thevalve-plug lugs 20 are provided for engagement with the notches 12,formed in the end of 'the tube 1.

Between Just above the lugs 2O the valve-plug` is provided with a flange21,` which extends over the top of the tube 1, but has a diameterslightly smaller than the external diameter of the tube 1. The liange 21is provided for engagement with a retention cap or collar 22,

which is screwed upon the exterior of the tube 1 and which has at thetop an inwardlydisposed flange 23, which is adapted for contact 'withthe upper surface of the Harige 21. When the retention cap or collar 22is screwed down upon the end of the tube 1, the valveplug is forced downinto the counterbore of said tube to sufficient extent to compress thepacking-washer in the counterbore and cause the lugs 2O to engage withthe notches 12, providedfor that purpose. A conical Valve member 24 issupported within the valve-casing by the spiral spring 15 and is heldvnormal-ly in contact with the lower `end ofthe valve-plug by the saidspring. The; valveI member 24 is provided on its upper surface withrubber packing,'as usual, and avalvestem 25, fixed' upon the-uppersurface=of the member 24, extends upward through`=the channel in thevalve-'plug torafford means for depressing the member 24 if stuck'tothe'v lower end of the valve-plug. Uponthe top of the valve-plugardust-cap27 yof -any ordi-v nary or :preferred construction issecured', the dust-cap being provided, as usual, with adisk 28, ofpacking material, forcontacuwithtl'ie upper end of thevalve-plug.'

InfFig. 4a slightly-modifiedfforrni of 'valve' construction isillustrated. In= l'this 'modified cisely vlike that already described,andi the retention-cap'used to hold the val-vemech'anism L terbore'atvthey topl oflthe rtube'l andwin the"y valve-plug which cooperatestherewith:l In

this modification of 'thevallve structure-tl'ie The principal' !difer-'-IOO form: of valve the means employed-for securing the tube` 1 1upon-the air-ftube'Ais pre- -IIO tube 1 'is provided withacounterbore11, the 1 lower portion. of which is circular 1in1cross-l section,as-showninf'Fig. 6, and the^upper portion lis square in cross-section,asr-shownn The valve-plug 16ill 'is similar inV all respectst0-the1valveplug 16, except that in Fig.` 5.'

the portion whichV enters the7k counterbored chamber inthe end of thetube 1 `is square inl' cross-section, as shown `1n"F1g.I 4, to cor-re-vspond tothe contour ofthe upper portion'lof said counterbored 'chamber.-v Thepackingy washer employed' between thevalve-plugand-i thevalve-casing is similar tothat already de-y scribed and lits within the1roundportion ofi the counterbored chamber.`

In Fig. 7 a valve ofthe type for use in 'connec-A tion with tires havinga tubular stem= formedY l integral therewithis illustrated. In thismodi-f lied form of thevalveitheexternally-threadedtube lis replaced bya tube-SOof smooth exterior, provided at the top with a flange 31,extending over the end of the tubular stem S oi a tire. The tube 30 isprovided at the top with la counterbore 32 for the reception of' thevalve mechanism, which may be of either of the forms above described. Inthe form of the valve illustrated in Fig. 7 the tube 3() is provided at'the top with notches 33 and the valve-plug 34 is provided with lugs 35for engagement with said notches; but the counterbore may be of the typeillustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, if' preferred. 'Ihe top of the tube 30is externally threaded, as shown, and the valve mechanism is secured inthe counterbore of said tube by means of a retention-cap 36, similar tothe retention-caps already described. The inner structure of the valveis identical with that illustrated in Fig. l and needs no detaileddescription.

Any preferred devices may be employed to hold the tube 30 in positionwithin the tirestem S, but the preferred form of securing means is thatdescribed and illustrated in my copending application, Serial No. 172,397, which consists of a collar 37, provided at the bottom withextensions 38, which are bent outward at their lower ends to engage withthe outer surface of' the rim R of the wheel, and a retention-cap 39threaded upon the exterior of said collar and providedv with aninwardly-disposed flange for engagement with the upper surface of theflange 31 of the tube 30.

In the several forms of' the valve above de- -scribed the valvemechanism may be removed as an entirety from the tube in which it issecured by merely unscrewing the retentioncap provided upon the upperend of' said tube. The valve-plug being in threaded engagement with thevalve-casing in every instance, the removal of' the valve-plug from thecounterbore in the upper or outer end of' the tube in which the valve isheld causes the withdrawal at the same time of' the valve-casing and theelements contained therein. The packingwasher disposed between the lowersurface of the valve-plug and the bottom of the counterbore in which thevalve-plug is seated is in each case firmly secured between the upperend of the valve-casing and the enlarged upper portion of thevalve-plug, so that the withdrawal of the valve-plug and valve-casingwill remove the packing-washer from the counterbore of' the tube andprevent its loss, which is of' frequent occurrence in valves of theordinary type.

In all the forms of` valve above described some means is provided toprevent rotation of' the valve-plug within the tube which holds thevalve mechanism. The prevention of' ro' tation of the valve-plug in thetube is of importance because such rotation tends to twist and tear thepacking-washer in the counterbore of the tube, and so to render saidpacking-washer ineiective. If` no means be provided to prevent suchrotation by positive interlocking ofthe valve-plug with the tube, theattachment of a pump to the valve for the ination of' the tire or thedetachment of' the pump from the valve will cause a certain amount ofrotative movement of the valveplug in the tube and wear upon thepackingwasher will inevitably result. By providing interlocking membersupon the valve-plug and the tube in which the valve mechanism is heldthe rotation of the valve-plug is of course absolutely prevented, andthe life of' the packing-washer between the valve-plug and the bottomof' the counterbore in the tube is indefinitely prolonged.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings it will beclearly seen that the valve disclosed is of such character that it hasvery little liability to derangement; but if the operation of` the valvebecomes in the slightest degree defective the entire valve mechanism maybe instantly removed from the tube attached to the tire and new valvemechanism introduced inlieu of the defective one removed. It will alsobe obvious that the prevention of any rotation of the valve-plug in thetube attached to the tire will lessen the liability of' the valve tobecome leaky and will minimize the frequency of repairs.

Having thus described the construction and operation of' my invention`what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

l. In a structure of the character specified, a valve-tube, a valvemechanism including a tubular valve-casing and a valve-plug secured inthe outer end of' said casing, a packingwasher disposed between the endof said casing and the upper portion of the plug, and means for securingsaid valve mechanism in said valve-tube with the packing-washer incontact with the bore of' said valve-tube.

2. In astructure of the character specified, a valve-tube having acounterbore at the upper end and having a threaded exterior, a valvemechanism having a packing-washer positively secured on the exteriorthereof' and adapted to fit in said counterbore, said valve mechanismalso having an outwardly-projecting iiange overlying said packingwasher,and a retention-cap adapted for threaded engagement with the exterior ofsaid valve-tube, said retention-cap having an inwardly-disposed flangeadapted for engagement with the iange upon the valve mechanism.

3. In a structure of the character specified, a valve-tube having acounterbore at the upper end, a valve mechanism including a tubularvalve-casing anda plug screwed into the outer end of said valve-casing,said plug having an enlarged upper portion, a packingwasher positivelysecured between the end of said valve-casing and the enlargement of saidvalve-plug, and means for securing said valve IOO Itively preventrotation 01u-said valve-plug Within said va1ve-tube, and means forlocking said coacting devices in engagement and simultaneouslycompressing said packing-Washer against the bottom of said counterbore.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aixed mysignature in the presence of two Witnesses.

J OHN ESTEN KELLER, J R.

Titnessesz K. L. BUEL, J. L. MOWER.

